Genetic studies program at the University of Pittsburg. Robert E. Ferrell, Ph.D., David N. Finegold, M.D., Kara Levine, M.S., and Kelly Knickelbein, M.S. at the Department of Human Genetics in collaboration with Judith Esman, M.D. are working to determine the genetic basis of primary (or inherited) lymphedema.

Family members, last Fall I wrote a post about the desperate financial situation of the Lymphedema Family Study at the University of Pittsburg.

When I got active online back in 2003, there was only one confirmed gene - VEGFC and one suspected FOXC2.

Now with the one I shared about yesterday, there are eight. With many more being extremely close to being found.

Now, it appears d-day is looming closer.

I received this note yesterday from the director, Dr. Finegold.

We always complain about the medical world not caring, and I wish I could convey Dr. Finegold's dedication in this post. You'll never find anyone more committed to the lymphedema world then he is.

This is our chance to stand up and be counted - and - to show that we believe our lives to be worth being cured. If there is anything, anything you can do, please follow the link to the study and help.

"I'm in a situation where I need to reach out to people in the lymphedema community.

I believe we have identified an opportunity to significantly affect wound healing by stimulating lymphogenesis in preparations of adipocyte stem cells or a mesenchymal stromal fraction prepared from adipocytes. I believe this may also possibly be an avenue to the effective treatment of lymphedema.

At this point in time, we don't have sufficient funding to do the experiments for proof of principle. I need to identify a commercial or foundation entity who might be willing to seed us for six months or so to solidify our preliminary data."